The Filmography of Roller Derby

Roller Derby has been portrayed in a number of films and documentaries over the years. I haven’t seen them all, but I am excited about “Derby Baby” showing at the Atlanta Film Festival in late March and at the Sonoma International Film Festival on April 14th (www.sonomafilmfest.org).

Because Roller Derby had played at the Pan Pacific continually since the 30’s in Los Angeles, a number of film companies had wanted to come up with projects but none materialized. Then an independent producer named Bert Friedlob was able to make a movie on the cheap in 1950 called “The Fireball” with Mickey Rooney, Pat O’Brien (surprise, playing a priest), and Marilyn Monroe in a bit part. He didn’t make it with Roller Derby, and it was called something else. Roller Derby skaters Bert Wall and Paul Milane appeared in the film (Paul was Mike Gammon’s father), with Paul doing…